Sold as the Alpha King's Breeder
Chapter 1089 - 152 : End of an Era

Chapter 1089: Chapter 152 : End of an Era

*Queen Lena*

“Abalone shell, dried sage, quartz,” I muttered to myself, listing off the items I needed for the ceremony. When I named something, I touched it to ensure it was still there.

“Lena, my love, what are you doing?” Xander came into my study. He walked up behind me and slipped his arms around my waist from behind.

I sighed and leaned against him. “Just making sure I have everything.”

He kissed my neck and chuckled. “You’ve double-checked a hundred times. I’m sure you’re ready.”

“It’s not that I’m not prepared....”

I sighed and turned into Xander, hiding my face in his chest.

“I know,” he murmured, running his fingers through my hair. “This is a big deal. If you’re not ready to do it, we can wait until the Moon Goddess comes to you again.”

I shook my head. “No, the sooner the better. I need to get used to not having them.”

“I sent word to Lucas and Sasha, Ciana and Theo, and Eliza and Jared. Is there anyone else you want at the ceremony?”

“No. There shouldn’t be a lot of people there. I don’t want this to get out to the public.”

Xander sighed. “You know I think we should tell our people.”

“We will, when the time is right. We’ve finally had an age of peace and quiet. I don’t want anyone to worry and I don’t want any dangers lurking to decide it is time to disrupt the peace. Not until the graduates of the school are ready.”

“Alright.”

That night, I stared at the ceiling while Xander snored lightly beside me. As nervous as I was to give away my powers, I knew it was the right time. The girls from the schools were getting stronger, and they knew how important their powers were.

Who would I be without my powers? I couldn’t remember a time I didn’t have them to rely on. They’d served me well and contributed to my reign as queen. Would I still have the strength to be queen when they were gone? Would I have the right to lead without them?

Sighing, I rolled over to Xander and rested my head on his chest.

This was the Moon Goddess’s request. I couldn’t deny her, but I hoped it wouldn’t doom my people. As loyal as I was to the Moon Goddess, the people of the Dark Realm were my greatest responsibility.

I didn’t sleep well and by the next morning, I felt sluggish and exhausted.

“We should postpone,” Xander said. “If you didn’t sleep well, then it’ll be risky to perform this ritual. We should wait until next full moon.”

I took Xander’s hand. “I’ll be fine. I promise. This is the right time to do it.”

He gave me a look like he didn’t believe me. “Are you sure?” He took both my hands in his. “I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

“Nothing will. You think I’d risk leaving you and our family?”

He chuckled and shook my head. Xander kissed the backs of my hands. “I’ll be by your side through it all, no matter what.”

I spent the whole day gathering the rest of my materials and mentally preparing for the ceremony. At sunset, I drank an herbal tea that helped relax me and open me up as a vessel for the spirit of the Moon Goddess. It was an important part of the ceremony.

Xander came to get me. He already brought my supplies to the woods. There was an old stump we turned into a natural forest altar for the ritual.

“Everyone has already gathered in the woods. They’re waiting for you.”

“How do they seem?”

“I think they’re curious to know why you’re doing this now.”

I nodded. There wasn’t an explanation I thought anyone else would understand.

Xander and I joined Lucas, Sasha, Ciana, Theo, Eliza, and Jared in the forest. They were standing around the stump altar, holding hands in a circle. They parted to let us through. Xander stood with the others and closed the circles around me, all holding hands.

While the moon rose high in the sky, I lit all the white candles on and around the tree stump. The whole clearing lit up with golden light.

Everyone was silent, watching me. I was used to having eyes on me all the time but my hands trembled under their gaze. This wasn’t like anything I’d ever done before.

I lit two sticks of incense. One filled the clearing with the thick scent of sandalwood and the other provided a lighter lavender scent. There was a dried sage bundle in the abalone shell. I lit the sage and wafted the smoke around me.

Immediately, I felt a little light headed. My body was cleansed and purified. I was ready.

I knelt before the altar and clasped a quartz crystal in one hand and a moonstone in the other.

“Moon Goddess, I beseech thee, take back that which you’ve gifted me. I am your pure, open vessel. Come into me and take back that which belongs to you.”

My body trembled and I gasped. The stones in my hands heated to an almost intolerable level but I kept my hands tight around them. My mouth opened without me trying and I felt a warm light filling me up. The light made my body expand until I felt like I was filling the entire clearing, metaphorically.

The stones vibrated and the power started draining from me. I felt it slip away quickly, like water draining from a bathtub.

My muscles trembled and shook and I slumped forward, leaning against the stump. I gasped and shook. My body felt weak and empty. All my powers were gone.

A film of sweat coated my skin. I closed my eyes and tried to catch my breath.

Xander’s hand touched my back. I knew it was him because of how my skin hummed under his touch. I gasped and turned into him. He knelt beside me and wrapped his arms around me.

“You’re okay,” he said.

“The power. It’s gone,” I whispered to him.

Bright light flashed above us and Xander and I looked up. The Moon Goddess in all her radiant glory appeared above the altar, a gentle smile on her face.

“Thank you, Lena. You have served me and your realms well. The world is a brighter, safer place because of how you have used these powers.”

I smiled weakly but I didn’t feel proud of myself from her praise. It was a wonderful thing for her to say, but I didn’t feel it yet. My body was so weak and I felt the absence of the power like a giant, gaping hole in my chest.

“For your service and sacrifice, I promise that I will always protect your family, for generations to come. You need not worry the loss of your powers will put them in danger.”

I tried to stand but my legs gave out from under me. Xander held me to my feet and I leaned against him.

“Thank you, Moon Goddess.” I bowed to her.

She disappeared after that and I looked at the others. They stared at me with wide eyes and strange looks on their faces.

“It’s done. The White Queen powers are gone.”

“Let’s get you back to the palace,” Xander insisted.

The others accompanied us back to the palace. Xander sat me on a couch and gave me a glass of water. He had a snack ready for me too. The water glass shook in my hands. I thought my strength would return but so far, I was just shaking and weak. I didn’t feel tired, but I thought all my muscles could collapse at any moment.

“How are you feeling?” Sasha asked, sitting beside me.

“Weak. I’m sure I’ll feel better after sleeping.” My heart clenched. I wasn’t so sure. My insides felt so empty and hollow.

“I know what it’s like to give up my powers,” Sasha said. “Even if it was temporary, I felt the emptiness that went along with it. It’ll get better, I promise.”

I nodded and drank my water.

“Lena, what is your plan now? The kingdom will be shocked to hear what you’ve done. What are you going to tell them?” Ciana asked.

I glanced at Xander and we shared a quick look.

“We’re not telling anyone yet. No one outside this room can know that I’ve performed the ritual to get rid of my powers.”

“Why not?” Eliza asked. “Without the White Queen–”

“Exactly,” I said sharply. “I don’t want to cause a panic. I want the realms to feel safe and secure. We’re in a time of peace. They don’t need to know.”

“You’re lying to the whole kingdom. They have a right to know,” Lucas argued.

I stood up, my knees trembling. Fortunately, no one saw that under the white ritual dress I was wearing.

Xander rushed to my side and held his arm out to me. I took it for support.

“Soon, the graduates from the school of the gifted will be all the protection we need. As they graduate, I’m going to send them out into the realms and have them show everyone what they are capable of and spread word of a force of powerful women ready to protect the realms.”

“Have they agreed to this?” Eliza asked.

“Yes. They know the plan, though, they don’t know I’ve given my powers back yet. They know it will happen, I just didn’t tell them I was doing it now. If and when danger comes again, the girls will be ready to protect the Light and Dark Realms.”

I sighed and sat on the couch again. I was completely worn out from the ritual and I felt sad. I had lost a huge part of my identity.

“Lena and I have discussed this course of action. We have a plan in place to prevent panic but ensure that the realms are still safe. All we need from you is a promise that none of you will reveal the truth.” Xander stood behind me and put his hands on my shoulders.

I was glad to have his support, even if he didn’t totally agree with it.

The others promised and finally, I was able to get to bed. Xander held me and looked into my eyes.

“Are you sure you’re alright?”

I smiled tightly and nodded. “Yes. I just need some sleep. I’ll be fine.”

I closed my eyes, but sleep did not come quickly. I had my concerns about the plan I had. What if all the darkness descended on us tomorrow? The gifted girls wouldn’t be ready. It was unlikely, but it was a concern of mine.

The truth was that the era of the White Queen was over. It was a bittersweet ending, but I would never stop protecting the realms, as long as I had breath in my lungs.